We have been in Ireland for only a few days. This is my first visit to Ireland, but it is very different from what my friends and relatives described from 40, 30, or even 20 years ago. Many buildings are new, construction is rampant, and traffic congestion is worse than most people would have expected.
We have been spending time in West Ireland (Galway), which is much more touristy than I had anticipated. We have spent a few nights at Rose Villa, a very pleasant B&B (there are zillions in the area), and done day trips with this as a base. From these day trips, one can see remnants of Ireland's past — the stone walls (with gaps for Pyramus and Thisbe to speak through?) and very small plots of land, many holding a few sheep or cows. It is hard to capture or recapture economies of scale in agriculture when (a) the soil is this rocky, and (b) the plots are so small with rock walls dividing them. I'd venture a guess that agriculture is not a source of comparative advantage for this region.
These four photos below were all taken west of Galway in Connemara.
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Fishing has always been important in the area. Many restaurants offer fresh seafood (alas, for Ms. Eclectic, no scallops, which are not indigenous; however, mussels are --- more on these later --- ).
